WESTBROOK, Maine–John Murphy, who recently retired as president of the Maine Credit Union League and Synergent after a 44-year career with the association, was honored during an event at the Westin Portland Harborview Hotel, where more than 400 people turned out.
Murphy has been president of the league for the past 25 years.
“Family, friends, co-workers, colleagues, past and present, and political leaders acknowledged the impact and legacy of an individual who tirelessly worked on behalf of credit unions and his employees and put their interests first,” the Maine league said in a statement.
The event included a video tribute with messages from some of those who worked closely with Murphy over the course of his career, according to the league.
Murphy stared as an 18-year-old with the league as the first employee in its Direct Marketing Services area before rising to eventually become president, and to lead the league’s subsidiary data processing company, Synergent.
Murphy was recognized as "someone who was a consistent leader that you could trust,” the league said, and among those paying tribute were Dan Egan, the retired president of the Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island Credit Union Leagues, and past board chairs of the Maine Credit Union League, such as Donna Steckino, retired president/CEO of Community CU, to members of the senior leadership team at the Maine CU League and Synergent and long-time legal counsel Rod Rovzar.
The Maine league said Murphy was lauded for bringing the same "energy, enthusiasm, commitment and attitude on his last day of work as he did on his first day."
"When I hear the name John Murphy, one word comes to mind above all others, and that word is 'integrity'," said Steckino.
Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) also sent a message that was included in the video, and remarked on the positive impact Murphy has had on credit union advocacy. "It just won't seem the same when Maine's credit unions come to Washington to speak with me on issues, and to not have John there. He was such a great advocate for credit unions, and someone I could always trust,” Collins said.
Murphy has been succeeded at the league by Todd Mason.